Italian Monkey Bread

This tastes amazing! Rich with Parmesan and made with zesty spaghetti sauce powder. Yep! It's a bit off the wall, but I promise it's worth it.

Ingredients

• 3 cups plus some extra bread or all-purpose flour

• 2 1/4 tsp instant yeast

• 1 tsp salt

• 2 tbsp sugar

• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan

• 2 tbsp spaghetti sauce powder mix

• 1 tsp garlic powder

• tt black pepper

• 1 cup milk

• 2 eggs

• 1/2 cup butter, melted

• 1/4-1/3 cup grated Parmesan

• 1 tbsp spaghetti sauce mix powder

• tt parsley flakes

• 1 tsp garlic and onion salt free mix

• 8 oz tomato sauce

• Remaining of the spaghetti sauce powder

• 1/2 tsp garlic powder

Instructions

1. In a bowl mix 2 cups flour with salt, yeast, sugar, Parmesan, spaghetti powder, garlic powder, and pepper.

2. Heat milk to 125F. Add melted butter and eggs.

3. Blend together. It will be a lumpy. Now sprinkle evenly; Parmesan cheese, spaghetti powder, parsley, and garlic and herb mix. Now add 1 cup flour.

4. Knead well. You may add an additional 1/3 cup flour -(1 tbsp at a time). This may take about 6-10 minutes. Set aside for 30-40 mins to rise until light and puffy. Do the poke test.

5. In a small bowl blend together tomato sauce, remaining spaghetti powder, and garlic powder. Set aside.

6. Take 1/2 of the dough and on lightly floured surface roll 1/4" thick. Cut in 1 -1/2" squares. Or use a cookie cutter that is similar in area.

7. Lightly grease a fluted pan or similar tube pan. Roll the dough in the tomato sauce mixture. Place in pan. Layer ingredients all around. Sprinkle with a bit of Parmesan. Continuously layering until all the remaining dough is used. Cover and let rise again.

8. Preheat oven to 400F. Bake 15 minutes. Then lower temperature to 350F and bake until golden brown; approximately 25-30 minutes.

9. Serve warm.

Susie's Tips and Tricks

You can add pepperoni bits if you like. Sprinkle around as you layer the dough.

You can do this in the mixer. Use the paddle to blend. Then switch to the dough hook. Test the time by squeezing the dough and seeing if it clings to your hand. If it clings; continue kneading. Machines can do a good job in about 5 minutes.

Melt some garlic butter on top too.

At the supermarket you can find packets of spaghetti sauce near the gravy mixes.

No need to proof regular dry yeast. Just add like instant. It will take longer to rise, but it works.